Turkish Airlines adds Cambodian freight route

Very few airfreight markets are showing double-digit growth these days, but Phnom Penh in Cambodia is an exception, with recorded tonnage growth of 17.3 percent, year-over-year, in 2015. This week, Turkish Airlines became the latest carrier to enter the market with the launch of its new weekly service from Istanbul, using a 60-tonne-capacity A330-200F.

Foremost, the new route gives Cambodian fashion and garment exports a direct link to European markets via Turkish Airways’ global network of more than 250 destinations. Local freight-forwarding partner, GSA-One World Aviation Co. Ltd., will support export and import activities moving through Cambodia on the new route.

Turkish Airlines’ entrance into Phnom Penh follows a recent visit from Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Local media sources say the visit helped pave the way for increased economic exchanges between Turkey and Cambodia, and that passenger flights could soon follow.

Growth in cargo activity at Cambodia’s capital airport is far from over. Russia-based AirBridgeCargo and Thailand-based K-Mile Air are both planning to launch freighter service in July.

Hong-Kong based Cathay Pacific was the first carrier to begin serving Phnom Penh with freighter service in 2014, after years of carrying smaller loads in the bellies of its passenger aircraft. In recent months, UAE-based Emirates, and Malaysia-based Raya Airways have both launched new freighter service.